New Year celebrations in the Grand Rapids area include a downtown ball drop, fireworks and more

Grand Rapids is a hot spot to ring in the New Year, and area revelers have a great selection of celebrations at which they can do so.

Downtown ball drop

10, 9, 8 … For the fourth year in a row, the official ball will drop alongside national music acts at 103.5 Hot FM’s Hot New Year’s Eve party in downtown Grand Rapids. More than 35,000 people celebrated at the free, family-friendly party last year, according to Marcus Bradman, director of events and promotions at Cumulus Broadcasting. This year, crowds should note a change of venue.

“The concert stage will no longer be at Rosa Parks Circle,” Bradman said. “It is being moved to Monroe Avenue, facing south.”

Entertainment, including the live music acts and a DJ, begins at 6 p.m. on Dec. 31.

“Many families come downtown and get a hotel room and enjoy the event immensely.”

This year’s ball, a six-foot sphere made from welded steel plates and tubes, features 448, 75-watt halogen bulbs.

Big balloon drop

More than 250 colorful balloons will cascade down on children and their families at the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum in a New Year’s Eve balloon drop. Families can enjoy entertainment, snacks, drinks, face-painting, activity stations, a DJ and live music from 6-8 p.m. Cost is $10 per person.

Throw in a colorful disco ball that drops, and it adds up to one family-fun pleaser that sells out every year.

“Kids and parents love this event,” said Development Manager Claudia Place. “It’s one of our staff’s favorites of all time.”

Ice is nice

The McDonald family of Rockford likes to chill out on New Year’s Eve, as they celebrate with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

“It has been a tradition for our family to head downtown and enjoy hockey together,” said Mary Ann McDonald. “My husband and kids grew up playing hockey, so we ring in the New Year with our favorite team.”

The Griffins will take on the Milwaukee Admirals Dec. 31 at 6 p.m. Following the game, fans will be treated to West Michigan’s largest indoor fireworks display.

Motown event

What better way to ring in the New Year than with the unforgettable music of Motown?“Motown’s Greatest Hits: I Hear a Symphony” is this year’s fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Grand Rapids. The Grand Rapids Symphony concert will feature favorite Motown songs from the ’60s and ’70s, and guest singers will belt out tunes made famous by the Temptations, the Jackson 5 and Smokey Robinson.

The performance is at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 31 at DeVos Performance Hall. Proceeds fund Grand Rapids Rotary Charities, including Indian Trails Camp and the Strive Mentoring Program.

The Resolution Run

Start your New Year off on the right foot. If your resolutions include getting in shape, here’s an activity that will help: The Wolverine Resolution Run is a 4-mile run/walk around Reeds Lake in East Grand Rapids on New Year’s Eve.

Proceeds will benefit Spectrum Health’s Pediatric Oncology Resource Team, which supports families of children diagnosed with cancer or other life-threatening diseases. To register, visit www.classicrace.com.Click here for more articles from the Grand Rapids Press' 2011 Hometown Holidays section. Follow Booth Features on Twitter: @BoothFeatures.